Considering a new saddle but don’t know about synthetic saddles? I have owned a synthetic close contact saddle for about 4 years and it’s the best investment I’ve ever made. It’s very low maintenance and is holding up perfectly. I don’t have to clean and condition it constantly for it to stay in great shape. I know, the smell of the leather is appealing, but beyond that I really don’t see the advantage.
In addition to being low maintenance a lot of the synthetic saddles have the Cair panel system as well as the easy change gullet system which are perfect for adjusting the saddle to your horse’s confirmation.
A saddle is a big investment and you need something that lasts and is comfortable for both you and your horse.
If you just have to have the leather, save the leather for the show ring and use the synthetic at home. A synthetic saddle will hold up real well to the day to day wear and tear and you can spend more time with your horse and less time cleaning and conditioning your tack.
If you like to trail ride where there are creeks and streams, then a synthetic saddle is perfect, no worries about it getting wet. That surprise rain shower isn’t a problem either with a synthetic saddle.
There are those who love to clean and condition tack but I don’t happen to be one of them. If you want to spend more time enjoying your horse and less time on maintenance, get a synthetic.